Local News in Brief : 7 Arrested in Simi Sweep on Bookmaking
Seven people have been arrested in Simi Valley on suspicion of bookmaking, police said.
The suspects ran a “local bookmaking cartel” for betting on horse-racing and other sports and do not appear to be connected to organized crime, according to Los Angeles police Sgt. Tony Vlaskamp.
Simi Valley and Los Angeles police raided the El Gallito restaurant in Simi Valley about noon Sunday and found betting records, odds sheets and cash, they said. The restaurant’s owner, Norman Havins, 49, of Simi Valley, was arrested along with Bernard Green, 54, of Tarzana and Gary Monheim, 49, of Thousand Oaks, Vlaskamp said.
James Letham, 55, and Leta Lee, 40, both of Simi Valley, were arrested after police searched Letham’s home and found betting materials and $5,800 in cash, Vlaskamp said.
The suspects are scheduled to be arraigned Oct. 2.
Two more Simi Valley residents, James Burkhardt, 54, and George Haley, 42, were arrested but released pending further investigation, Simi Valley police said.
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